SAD/ feeling low in winter support thread

[LadyCatStark]

Hi all, after reading some unhelpful comments on another thread where someone is struggling, I wondered if anyone would like to join me in a SAD support thread for anyone who is feeling low now that winter is coming, whether you have a SAD diagnosis or not.

Disclaimer: I know anyone can post anything they like on a public forum but please, out of respect for those of us who are really struggling, don’t come on this thread to tell us how much you love winter, hygge, snuggling, hot chocolate or twinkly lights or tell us that we’ll feel better if only we change our mindset.

Please feel free to share your feelings, good or bad, tell us about your day or share tips for things that help (or don’t). Hopefully we can all help each other get through this winter!

I guess I'm just placemarking really. I'm a single mum with 3 kids, 2 have SN. Being able to get out after work and school so the younger ones can burn off energy is great and autumn/winter destroys that. I don't think people with NT children realise how energetic ASD can make someone. We have a small terraced house with minimal garden. Not a naice area with leafy parks full of wooden play equipment and Boden catalogue children either. No one in their right mind goes to the park after dark here. Any ideas to replicate 2 hours running round the park that don't involve either moving (can't afford it) or the neighbours wanting to kill me?

It’s been beautiful here today, about 20 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I took my puppy to the beach and it was just lovely. I could cope with 20 degrees all year round!

@DrCoconut that sounds really hard, one of those indoor exercise trampolines maybe?

It has been nice here too. A bit of a crappy day at work but not the weather's fault.

@DrCoconut is there any after school clubs (if your children are of school age) ?

Thanks for the thread OP. I’m really starting to dread winter. To add to all the other SAD problems, I usually end up getting a cold which turns into a chest infection and I feel like I’m ill the entire winter. One winter without antibiotics would be awesome.

@DrCoconut could you go swimming?

The kids go to swimming once a week. The pool is set aside for that after school. I can't get after school club or childminder at all, it's making working very difficult. Places are like hen's teeth since covid. And although DS has ASD he's not severely affected enough to qualify for SN type provision. They are getting a couple of activities in luckily now things are open again. The little one is NT but just energetic due to his age and I think he sometimes competes a bit with the others for attention. He doesn't need to but being a kid he does.

Thanks for starting this thread and hello to all on here, it's hard isn't it, especially when it first starts getting darker and the clocks change.
I've got a sad lamp but might get one of the alarm clocks too. Dread it when it's freezing to wake up to. Booking a trip would be ideal as something to look forward to during the winter, but it's all so up in the air just now isn't it. I'm taking VitD but might look into St John's Wort.

DrCoconut that sounds difficult. More activities is more running around for you as well. Do you have a trampolining club nearby?

I'm sure it will be ok. I've had a bit of a brutal day at work and probably thinking the worst

Yes I don’t know how I’m going to cope with another winter, each one seems to get worse for me. The darkness, the cold (I get really cold), my house feels dreary - not twinkly or cosy
Oh and walking the dog in mud, oh the bloody mud!!! Mud depresses me, I hate it. I know that sounds ridiculous but it drags me down. Walking the dog should be a positive thing, but the cleaning up afterwards can take an hour!

I one of those people that is ALWAYS cold, last year i bought a pair of snow boots and it made such a difference. I think for me dressing appropriately for the weather really helps me, I totally get the PP saying about the cold getting to your bones

Someone on the other thread is extolling the virtues of “snuggly evenings” 🙄I’ve had to come back on here for the sake of my sanity - some great suggestions 😊

My armory against SAD:

As much natural daylight as possible, at least once a day. If I don't set foot outside and see 10minutes of daylight I'm invariably weeping into my dinner that night.

Vitamin D. Lots.
Magnesium, zinc and iron

Exercise that you have to do. I'm in a team sport so must go every week, or I'm letting people down. Often just that can be the catalyst for more exercise during the week.

Good food in freezer, as in food that is both tasty and good for you (stews, casseroles, chillies). We've usually got a stash and it means that we're getting a dose of good food at least once a day when you just can't.

I've also got good boots and a good jacket, as someone mentioned already, so being outdoors is fairly pleasant, regardless of the weather, which definitely helps.

Mostly I'm just here to watch for any good suggestions or silver bullets.

Oh something I do swear by is drinking lots of herbal tea especially ginger. Someone once told me it helps stave off sickness if drank every day and it does seem to help me (even if I hate the taste).

Thank you for this thread.

SAD lamp low dose of sertraline
Winter sun holiday in Canaries
Daylight 2 hours on allotment
Seed catalogues
Vitamin D, folic acid and 5 HTP
Pub fireside seat
Rechargeable flickering LED candles!

@PaulaTrilloe do you take the 5HTP with the Sertraline? I know there’s some things that interact so I’m not sure what else I can take.

Also i'd advise the "always cold" people to have a word with your GP and ask about having your thyroid levels tested. I was always cold, hugging the radiator in the winter, always freezing. I am now on 125 micrograms a day of levothyroxine and it helps a bit, I still don't like winter but don't have that permanently frozen thing I used to have.

I've found my people. I thought that every winter was getting worse for me, except last year which was marginally better. Winter 2019-2020 almost drove me insane, and ironically I started feeling better just as we went into lockdown. Last year I invested in a cheap SAD lamp which helped with the dark early mornings... and I think I'm going to trot it out from tomorrow. Only problem is that it makes a horrible high-pitched noise as it lights up in the morning - but it does wake me up, I suppose.

I've been taking an extremely high dose of Vitamin D this summer because my levels were very low, so I'm hoping that it'll help hold off the SAD, although it's kicking in a little bit now. Once I've finished these high-dose ones I think I'll try to find a good multivitamin supplement. I'm also always cold but I've had quite a few thyroid checks this year and they've all been fine so it must simply be how I'm made.

That’s interesting @KingsleyShacklebolt I’m one of those people who get tagged in sleeping bag coats on FB 😂 and my mum has hypothyroidism! I have an appointment tomorrow about my medication so I’ll ask if I can have a thyroid test.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I got my SAD lamp back out for the winter yesterday!

Wondering if I should ask my GP to increase my AD dosage over the winter as well - it was vaguely suggested a couple of years ago that I could take a lower dosage year round and a higher one in winter. Does anyone else do this?

@bearlyactive not necessarily re thyroid as the NHS normal reference range is too wide. I suspected I had thyroid issues for years and kept being told I was normal with TSh between 3.5-5.5 . Now on levothyroxine due to ttc issues and my levels not being optimal for pregnancy and it has revolutionised how I feel! My feet and legs feel warm, from the inside! And I have energy. Aches are gone!

Anyhow just something to pass on, sub-clinical thyroidism is a thing. I am going to look into a private endo because It really is the difference between functioning and not functioning for me. Also interested to see how it impacts my SAD this year…

*sub-clinical hypothyroidism

I've had thyroid tests and all fine, I'm just a cold person. I've just bought some fingerless gloves for working from home as it helps with my Reynauds but means I can still type. They also look nice rather than "old man". They're recycled cashmere from Turtle Doves. Expensive but at least I won't be able to lose them if I just wear them in the house!